((Prof. Zakia A. Siddiqi, Principal of Women's College
Aligarh Receiving Poet Ali Sardar Jafri .In his address to girls and teachers ,
Sardar impressed upon social workers , leaders and and teachers to ensure 100%
education of girls . “ Educating a girl is more important than educating a boy
because today’s girl is tomorrow’s mother . And in a family , the child receives his first
education from his mother only. So the mother has to be well informed and
educated . This alone shall bring them out of Age old Darkness and ignorance.”
He added )

( Sardar with his two sisters )

( Sardar at BBC London )

( Gyanpeeth Award to the poet being presented by Atal Bihari vajapayee )

“ One may disagree with his political beliefs but none can overlook the vision that this man has for the Humanity " Vajpayee made the historic peace trip to Pakistan where he presented SARHAD the first-ever album of anti-war poems of Sardar Jafri (sung by Seema Anil Sehgal) to his Pakistani counterpart. This was indeed the greatest tribute to the poetic vision of Sardar. Vajpayee has been a personal friend and an admirer of Sardar .

On this initiative from Vajpayee Leading Newspapers wrote

“Where politics had failed, poetics triumphed ”

“ Tum Aao Gulshan e Lahore se chaman Bardosh

Hum Aayein Subh e Benaras Ki Roshinin Le kar

Himalaya ke hawaaon Ki Taazigi Le kar

Aur oss ke baad Yeh Poochein Ki Kaun Dushaman Hai ..”

( Ali Sardar jafri )

(You Bring us flowers from the Garden of Lahore

We bring the Dawn of Benaras for you ,

We bring the fresh Himalayan breeze for you,

Then let us sit down and ask each other ,

“Who Is the enemy Now ? )

(2)

FORMER PRIME MINISTER SHRI I K GUJRAL

“I met him in Lucknow university through
sultana . I kept track of him through sutana who had joined Lahore radio
station in 1944 . she was transferred to Bombay possibly in 1946.

Sardar was a true nationalist
,a tall thinker and protagonist of composite culture of India .His sympathy for
the poor and marginalized was beyond belief .This is evident in his writing as
well.

Hum Kahaan Jhaayein
kahein kis se ki Nadaar Hain Hum,

Kis ko samjhaayein
Ghulami ke Gunehgaar hain Hum

( Where do we go ?To
whom should we tell that we are poor ?

And to whom should we
explain that we are guilty of Bondage. )

Since I was also
associated with the communist movement , I initially shifted to Mumbai after
the partition of the country . Here I renewed my contacts with Sardar and other
progressive writers like Bedi , krishen chander , Kaifi and sahir.

Later when I was
country’s ambassador in Moscow, I had the privilege of hosting many dinners and
receiving many Indian delegations of Writers from the country . Sardar and
Sultana would also come . Sardar ‘s Charismatic presence was liked by many
writers from communist countries . Many Russian Poets sought translation of his
poems . Babajan a scholar from Tajikstan even set up an Asian Studies centre in
Russia and sought Sardar's help. Academician Asimov became Sardar ’s friend .
He had a deep study of Russian poet Mayakovsky and the American poet Walt
Whitman .In fact he brought Urdu much closer to Hindi by associating with
leading Hindi writers of his time..His work on kabir and Mirabai is unmatched
to this day .

One quality with
sardar was that he never told you of his financial difficulties . He never
asked for a personal favour . He was never after money or material things . A
good company of friends , a heart full of compassion for the poor ,love for
children, optimism, humanism and strong belief in Indo Pak Peace were some
traits of his impressive personality.

In the year 2000, I
and my wife went to see him in Bombay hospital where he lay terminally ill with
a brain Tumour . His eyes were open and looking far behind. He could not talk .
Sultana’s gentle nudging could not make him to look at us . He was possibly
thinking of returning to this country again . Returning to its seasons , rivers
, lakes , flowers and chirping birds .I and my wife knew how much he loved this
country .

But, I'll come here
again,

Speak through
children's voices,

Sing in the call of
birds.

When seeds smile
under the earth,

And seedlings, with
their nimble fingers

Caress the layers of
soil,

I'll open my eyes

Through every bud,

On my green palm,

I'll balance the
droplets of dew.

I'll become the glow
of cheeks,

The beat of melodies.

Like the blush of a
modest bride,

I'll sparkle through
every veil.

When the wintry winds
blow

And the autumn leaves
fall,

Under the lively feet
of travelers,

My laughter will
sound

In the crunching of
dry leaves.

( Ali Sardar jafri )

(3)

IRFAN AHMED

“ Sardar was a rebel,
freedom fighter, pacifist, radical activist, storywriter, critic and
documentary filmmaker at once. But, above all, he was a poet endowed with
exquisite imagination, one of the brightest stars on the firmament of
twentieth-century Urdu poetry. Like all great poets he was a prophet engaged in
unraveling the mysteries and ambiguity of human drama. The principal theme of his
poetry was compassion, love, perseverance and sensitivity surviving amidst the
callous inhumanity of our times. In his unique style he depicted the exemplary
survival of the human spirit in the face of all-pervasive adversity and
defeatism. In so doing he not only carried forward the traditions of Urdu
poetry but also enriched its treasure with new symbols and powerful imagery.
Indeed, his poetry gradually evolved into a genre of its own kind whose
influence is difficult to ignore among the present generation of Urdu poets.Some of the poems really enthralled the
hearts and minds of all and sundry and transcended the dry logic of political
economy.

“ Sardar and I met
for the first time in Lucknow university in 1939. I was doing my MA in
political science and sardar was studying Englishliterature .In 1944
I joined AIR Lahore and Kartar Singh Duggal was my colleague over there . Later
he married my sister Ayesha and became our close relative.Sardar had many friends but he was very close to
Krishen Chander . There was a perfect rapport between the two..I have spent 52
years with Sardar and his circle included Faiz , I K Gujral,Rajinder Singh Bedi
, Mukh Raj Anand , Kaifi , Dilip Kumar , ramanand sagar , Jaan Nissar Akhtar,
Sahir, Majrooh , K A Abbas ,Ismat Chugtai , Qurratulain Hyder and Many more
.His two unmarried sisters stayed with us . sardar looked after them most
affectionately.Today grown up children dread the thought of living with their
parents leave alone taking care of them. Sardar hardly owned anything . Both of
us never bought material things even if we had money. It was a state of mind
and a conviction .many a time children asked us why we did not have a car .We
lived in rented accommodation for many years and kept on shifting from one
house to another . Finally Sardar raised some loans from friends and bought a
small flat for Rs52000/- in 1967. Sardar smoked endlessly but in 1968 he
suffered from angina and stopped smoking altogether . He did not give up his
drinks .

On january 30, 1948 sardar and I rode the local bus and went
to the office of registrar of marriages . Sardar the bridegroom had three
rupees in his pocket .Krishen chander K A Abbas and Ismat Chugtai were witness
to our civil marriage .Later Ismat celeberated the occasion and took us out for
ice cream.

After the marriage we lived in Andheri commune . Kaifi and
shaukat were already living there .Sardar was an incorrigible optimist .
Inspired by Rumi’s lines Hamcho sabza Baarha Roeeda Aayam ( like the green of
the earth , we never stop growing ), he summed up the story of his life in his
poem MERA SAFAR .

Aur neeli fazaa ki makhmal par

hansti hui heerey ki yeh kani

yeh meri jannat, meri zameen

iss ki subhein, iss ki shaamein

bey jaaney huey, bey samjhay huey

ik musht ghubaar-e-insaan par

shabnam ki tarah ro jaayangi

har cheez bhula di jaayegi

yaadon key haseen but khaaney sey

har cheez uthaa di jaayegi

phir koi nahin yeh puchhega

SARDAR kahaan hai mehfil mein

lekin mein yahaan phir aaoonga

bachchon key dahan sey boloonga

chirhyon ki zabaan sey gaaonga

aur saraa zamaanah dekhegaa

har qissah mera afsaanah hai

har aashiq hai sardaar yahaan

har maashooqan sultanaah hai

On the blue velvet of space

that luminous crystal of diamond,

and these—my heaven and earth,

the nights and the mornings all

without knowing, without understanding

on the human handful of dust.

will shed tears of dew

Every cherished thing will go, plucked

from memory’s fine pagan shrine.

And then no friend will ask a friend:

“Why don’t we see Sardar today?”

Yet I will return here once again

to speak out of the mouths of babies,

to warble with the tongues of birds.

The world will see under my star

every tale become my story,

where every lover is Sardar

and every love is my Sultana.

( Ali Sardar jafri )

He never possessed or wore black garment .Though he was deep
in Marxism , he would often tell children “God Bless You ”. He had simple
eating habbits . He enjoyed Arhar Daal , Pulaav and kebabs.

A child begging in streets moved Sardar to tears . Whatever
change or small notes he had in his pocket , he would offer to this child.
*Nazim was born during the days when Sardar was arrested and kept in a jail for
being a communist . He was sent to Nashik Jail . I would go to the jail with
little Nazim in my lap and a bagful of cigarettes for him.And then on Idd day
Sardar was released and he knocked at the door . Sardar held me in embrace .
Little Nazim gazed at the stranger who had the Audacity to hold his mother in
embrace .Sardar hugged and kissed his son for the first time .That Idd has
remained most memorable in my life.”

(5)

ACTRESS AND SOCIAL ACTIVIST SHABAN AZMI

“He gave me my name
shabana . My grand father had suggested kaneez Fatima . And now I believe my
name has shaped my life. For this I am thankful to Sardar jafri only.

we lived in Khetwadi
commune and each family had just one room . By each family I mean sudhir joshi
, sawant , My father kaifi Azmi , sardar jafri . The strip of balcony attached
to the room was converted to a kitchen by each family. We shared common Toilets
.The residents had a common drawing Room called Red Hall which was used for
party Meetings .His son Nazim had coined the word Doda for sardar as he could
not pronounce Dady . So we also called sardar Uncle as Doda .children were his
weakness . He always played with children and devoted his time to them.

He always looked
elegant in his clothes . It could be a two piece suit or a kurta Pyjama .And
the fingers that he ran stylishly through his long hair attracted attention.

He was 84 years old
when his younger sister died . Her death shattered him. I have yet to see a
brother so affectionate as sardar . He used to take Taxi to hospital everyday
to see that his sister ate home made food. He was a real human being much above
narrow caste or religion divide .

Another aspect of
Sardar Jafri’s personality that deserves mention is his intellect and stature
as a charismatic personality. He had a presence, which commanded respect and
admiration. He was perhaps one of the most learned men of our times.”

Ghareeb Sita ke ghar
pe kab tak rahegi Ravan ki hukmrani

Draupadi ka libas
uske badan se kab tak chhina karega

Shakuntala kab tak
andhi taqdeer ke bhanwar mein phansi rahegi

Yeh Lukhnow ki
shiguftagi maqbaron mein kab tak dabi rahegi

( Ali Sardar Jafri )

(How long will Ravan
rule over the home of poor Sita

How long will
Draupadi be deprived of her garment

How long will
Shakuntala be enmeshed in the abyss of fate

How long will the
freshness of Lucknow remain buried under the imposing tombs?)

(from Awadh ki
Khak-i-Haseen )

(6)

DR. MULKH RAJ ANAND NOTED ENGLISH WRITER

“Sardar You have
accomplished the purpose for which I write. This poem Asia Jaag Uthaa or Asia Awakens
is an expansion of Iqbal’s Message as
conveyed in Payaam e Mashriq. The poem has been written with ink of your Heart’s
blood. What a beautiful hope you have put up for life against death in our
time? ”

(Asia Awakens)

This is the soil of
Asia,

The womb of
civilisation,

The land of culture.

It was here that

The sun opened its
eyes.

It was here that

The first dawn of humanity

Unveiled its beauty.

It was here that

Ancient ages lighted

Their lamps of
science and wisdom.

It was from this
height that

The Vedas sang their
happy songs.

From here did the
Buddha

Teach the lesson of
equality.

From here did Mazdak

Sing the songs of
love and justice.

The winds of our
history

Have heard the words
of the Christ.

Our sun has shone

On the head of
Mohammed.

This is the soil

Which has borne

The sheaves of grain;

It is as ancient

As the story of
mankind;

It is as majestic

As the tall peaks of
Himalayas;

It is as beautiful

As the nymphs of
Ajanta

It is as generous

As the kind waters

Of the Ganges and the
Nile;

This fertile lap is
filled

With children and
flowers.

Our heritage extends

From Mohenjo Daro

To the great wall of
China,

Our history, from the
Taj

To the pyramids of
Giza,

Our treasures, from
Babylon

To Nineveh.

Since our childhood,

Eloquence has kissed
our lips,

And poetry sung
lullabies to us.

Our tongues have
learnt

The Vedas, Gospels
and the Quran.

Our imagination has
already touched

Those soaring
heights, where shine

The suns of Firdausi
and Saadi,

Nizami, Khayyam and
Hafiz;

The heights, where
hold sway

Valmkik, the revered
Tulsi,

Kabeer and Surdas;

The heights, where
resound

The lute of Iqbal,

The songs of Tagore.

***

This is the soil of
Asia,

The womb of
civilisation,

The land of culture,

Her peasant, a wooden
plough

In his aged hands;

Her poor workers

With burning, tired
eyes;

Ships, sailors,
songs, storms,

Potters, blacksmiths,

Milkmaids bathed in
milk;

Old story tellers,

Sitting round a fire;

Innocent faces of
little children

Safe in their
mothers' laps;

Fields of ripe crops,

Cows and buffaloes;

Tinkling of glass
bangles

In green fields;

Dreary deserts,

Silent and profound
like prophets;

Flowing tresses of
date palms;

Pomegranate flowers,
mango blossoms;

Granaries, heaps of
cow-dung cakes;

Dancing virgins of
winding pathways.

Long and lovely
rivers

Kissing with their
waves

The tremblings lips
of their banks;

Gentle waterfalls

At the slender waists

Of beauteous bridal
valleys;

Blue bowls in
mountain palms;

Stars reflecting in
lake mirrors;

Loving arms

Of the Ganges and
Jamuna

Round the neck

Of the Himalayas;

The shawl of blue ice

On the head of
mountain storms.

This is Asia,

Young, fresh, and
fertile,

Whose poor, penniless
children,

Bute at the poisonous
snake of hunger;

Their lips never
tasted milk

After leavings their
mothers' breasts;

Their tongues have
never tasted

The bread of wheat;

Their backs have
never felt

The touch of clean,
white cloth;

Their hands have
never held a book;

Their feet know
nothing

Of shoes and
slippers;

Their heads are
strangers

To the soft delight
of a pillow;

They regard their
hunger

As their food:

These unique
creatures

Will be found only

In the Paradise of
Asia;

Still 'animals'

Even after three
centuries

Of imperial
'civilisation.'

Where are you,

You bearers of the
torch of 'culture'?

Come and see

The sideshow of your
'culture.'

***

Nowhere else will you
see

Such pitiful faces.

Every corner of this
earth,

You have filled with

Your regal memorials.

Here, you have reared

An arch of victory,

There, pillars of
your arrogance;

Here, you have cast

Horses of bronze,

There, statues of
stone:

But they do not
represent

Your culture and
civilisation.

Call your sculptors
and painters,

To adorn your museums

With these pitiful
faces,

As the lasting
memorial

To your mighty deeds.

***

Now, in Asia we have

A forest of hands,

Fists of white
marble,

Of dark granite.

O bride of the dawn
of spring,

We are waiting to
adorn you with

A fistful of
twilight's vermilion,

Flowers of moon and
stars,

Rouge of red
sunbeams.

( Ali Sardar Jafri )

(7)

NOTED WRITER MUSHIR
UL HASSAN

“ Sardar’s credo rested on a very strong commitment to
rationalist thought . He was a champion of diversity .He felt that if
individuals are to retain that measure of flexibility and initiative ,which
they ought to have ,they must not be forced into one mould ;or, to change
metaphor , all drilled into one army. sardar felt that political parties may
come and go but INDIA is too precious a civilization entity to be used as a
pawn on chessboard of opportunist politics . His vision did not cease even
after the collapse of Communism or Socialism.

He shared the joy of freedom from the British but strongly
bemoaned the division of his dear Country .

love for
INDIA was deeply engraved in his heart . When his dear country was in trouble ,
no cause was greater than fighting for the unity and integrity of his
motherland . Sardar Rose like a pillar of strength for the country in
protesting against china’s aggression .

Neither Chengiz lives any longer , Nor Timur ,

What has survived are the people .

The youthful waves of the ocean of the time,

Gush and flow from eternity to eternity ,

Ours is a story of Millennia;

For we are invincible , Eternal.

We are the designs and patterns of civilizations,

We are the aspirations of hearts ,

We have been over engaged in struggles ,

We are the sharp swords of history .

(8)

EMINENT KATHAK DANCER *SHOVANA NARAYAN

“ I had heard him reciting his poem MERA SAFAR . I was touched by what
Sardar Bhai has conveyed through this poem . And then One day I told him that I
want to convey the essence of the poem in Kathak. He felt happy. I am always
touched by the opening lines of this poem. All of us have to face it one day .

Such a day will arrive againwhen the lamps of the eyes will get extinguished;the lotus of the hands will get witheredand each butterfly of speech and voicewill flee from the leaf of the tongue.All faces that blossom like buds,chuckle like flowers,the circling of blood, the beats of heart,all such symphonies will go to sleep…

These immortal lines convey his coming to terms with DEATH. These
thoughts, I believe keep swirling in every one’s mind . Perhaps it was this
very fact that translated itself instinctively as a dancer’s story through the
medium of dance for the philosophical depth of the poem had consumed me and
haunted me in my dreams for a longtime.My meetings and discussion with him provided me a
glimpse into his inner strength , courage , conviction and the deep sense of
commitment to the most important religion of all religions , namely , universal
brotherhood. He celebrated Idd, Moharram, Dussera and diwali with same verve.It was sardar Bhai who introduced me to the
wonderful world of Ghalib’s charaag e Dair ; a mind blowing reference to the
spirituality of Benaras . To me he was a big brother . Kind and warm hearted
person who was always ready for help . A real gifted soul who had a profound
knowledge of all types of performing ARTS”

(9)

EMINENT WRITER AND JOURNALIST SARDAR KHUSHWANT SINGH

“Ali Sardar also had
a phenomenal memory. If I quoted one line of any Urdu poet, he would come out
with the rest of the poem. And explain every word by referring to Persian poets
- from Rumi, Hafiz to Ghalib and Allama Iqbal. When I set about translating
Iqbal's Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa, I went all the way to Bombay to seek his
assistance. For two days Ali Sardar and Sultana came to my hotel in the
morning; we worked till lunch time when Rafiq Zakaria and his wife Fatma joined
us to find out how it was going. After they left, we resumed our labours till
it was time for our sundowners.

I saw him often when he came to Delhi to record Kamna
Prasad's series, Kahkashaan (Milky Way), on contemporary Urdu poets. And later
to participate in the Jashn-e-Bahaar mushairas organised by Kamna to bring
Pakistani and Urdu poets together on one stage every year. He presided over the
last one a few months before he died. He had an imposing presence: he was a
lean, tall man with a mop of untidy, tousled grey hair, sparkling dark eyes and
ever-smiling face. His voice held his audience spell-bound. His message to
Pakistan at a time when Indo-Pak relations were at their worst was one of
peace:

Tum aao gulshan-e-Lahore se chaman bardosh,

Hum aayen subh-e-Banaras ki roshnee le kar

Himalay ki havaaon ki taazgee le kar

Aur iske baad yeh poochein ki kaun dushman hai?

( Ali Sardar Jafri )

(You come from the garden of of Lahore laden with flowers,

We will come bearing the light of a Benares morning

With fresh breezes from Himalayan heights

And then, together we can ask, who is the enemy?)

Ali Sardar was an incorrigible optimist. Inspired by Rumi's
line, Hum cho sabza baarha roeeda aym (like the green of the earth we never
stop growing), he summed up his life story (Mera Safar) in a few memorable
lines:

I am a fleeting moment

In the magic house of days and nights;

I am a restless drop travelling eternally

From the flask of the past to the goblet of the future.

I sleep and wake, awake to sleep again.

(10)

POET AND FILM LYRICIST JAVED AKHTAR

He wrote to instill courage , patriotism and unity amongst the people who had remained divided
for ages. He brought new metaphors by using words like NIVALA, MILL,HAATH
,MACHINE and BHOOKH . Urdu poetry was
taken out from drawing rooms and Bars to fields, factories and workshops . Sardar
was a personal friend of Paul Robson ( American Actor and singer ), Nazim
Hikmet ( Turkish poet )and Pablo Neruda ( Chilean poet and Nobel laureate ).Any
one who came close to him was enthused by his towering personality and his a deep conviction.

Jafri was a strong proponent
of permanent peace in south east Asia. He desired , worked for and supported peace and friendship between India
and Pakistan.His poem Subh e Farda or “Tomorrow’s Morning ” powerfully conveys this ideology and commitment
of Sardar .

The morning of
Tomorrow

The setting imperial
sun

broke into two parts

On this very Border,
yesterday.

The dawn of freedom
was wounded

On this very Border,
yesterday.

This is the Border of
blood,

Tears, sights, and
sparks,

Where we had sown
hatred

And reaped a harvest
of swords.

Here, stars struggled

In the eyes of dear
ones.

Here, beloved faces

Flickered in streams
of tears.

Here, a mother lost
her sons,

A brother, his
sister.

This border thrives
on blood,

Breathes flames of
despise

She slithers like a
snake

On the bosom of our
land.

She comes to the
battlefield

Crested with all her
weapons

This is the Border of
flowers,

Of springs and
fanciful colours,

Smiling like a
rainbow,

Trailing sinously
like a stream,

Swaying senuously
like a stream,

On the cheeks of the
land,

Perfuming,glittering,

Like the parting in a
bride's hair

Which does divide the
hair,

But with the sword of
vermillion,

The loving finger of
sandle-wood.

This is the Border of
the beloved,

Of lover and soulds,
restless in love.

This is the Border of
friends,

of brothers and
well-wishers.

Let the sun shine on
it

Like a benevolent
guard.

Let the stars and
moon

Watch over it during
night

Let the earth bow

Under the weight of
its crops

Let it be raided

By armies of green
trees.

Let God protect it

From the eyes of the
evil.

Let it remain safe
from

the traders in blood.

Let it be trampled

By the steel feet of
industry.

Let there be an
onslaught

Of the hands of
artisans.

Let the flowers of
sparks

Fly from the bosom of
the rocks

Let tall mountains
fold

In the lap of the
adze.

Let the thirst of the
lips

Mould its own Saki
and cups.

As the eyes of the
afflicted

Shine with Joy.

Let love be the
ruler,

Beauty the murderer

Let the heart be
messiah,

The gardens be gutted

By the fire of
flowers.

I wish for the day
when

Hatred is drainded
away with tears.

I wish for the day
when,

This Border becomes
the kiss of lips.

This is the Border of

The bold courageous
martyrs.

This is the Border of

The horsemen of the
land of heart.

This is the Border of

The breeze of the
gardens

of Lahore and Delhi.

This is the Border of

The heart-warming
dreams

Of freedom and peace.

This is the Border of

The roses of love,

Wounded, soaked in
blood.

I stand on this
Border

Waiting for the
morning of tomorrow.

( Ali sardar Jafri )

( Autar Mota 26.06.2013 ... 1.10 AM ... Good Night )

( Source Material for this write up ....ALI SARDAR JAFRI: THE YOUTHFUL BOATMAN OF JOY, A Book published by Bharatiya Jnanpith and Edited by Squadron Leader Anil Sehgal and also some Relevant Articles from News papers and Magazines. My special Thanks to Squadron Leader Anil Sehgal for this post . )

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

( FOR THIS PHOTOGRAPH I AM GRATEFUL TO THE FAMILY OF SH. SOM
NATH DHAR ESPECIALLY TO HIS TWO BRILLIANT DAUGHTERS PAMPOSH DHAR AND TARA DHAR
HASNAIN. )

A WONDERFUL BOOK RECOMMENDED FOR READING

“ FROM PARTITION TO OPERATION
BLUE STAR ..Tales of a Journalist , Bureaucrat and spy. ”

Price Rs399/=

Published by Harper Collins

BY Som Nath Dhar

*Som Nath Dhar started his career as a Journalist based in Lahore sometime during
1946 . After partition of the country ,he moved to Delhi where he worked as personal assistant
to Pandit jawahar Lal Nehru for some time . This assignment made him privy to
some great events that shaped India’s
future . Later he joined Central Information services and also had a diplomatic
assignment .He also workedin Kenya
and Austria
as a senior officer for Country’s Premier Intelligence Agency RAW and finally
returned to AIR as Director News . After retirement he taught at Indian institute of Mass
communication and later moved to Singapore in 2010 to live with his
daughters . He left for his heavenly abode in Dec 2012 . The book was launched
in April 2013 by his daughters Pam ( Pamposh Dhar )and Tara ( Tara Dhar
Hasnain) both based in Singapore
.

It is a well known fact that Quite often what comes up on
surface for public consumption on the political showground may not be the true
inside story . But those who are witness to behind the curtain activity of
events can measure the gap between what actually happened and what later appeared
for public consumption. Som Nath Dhar was one such privileged person. As
writer,he minces no words to reveal and truthfully convey behind the curtain
activity of some such incidents that shaped the destiny of Modern India . He
presents them in his truthful , impeccable and straight style that keeps the
reader engrossed ....................

One chapter in the book deals with the arrest of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah in 1953.
The author clears a lot of cloud and controversy with regard to role of
Pandit ji in the arrest of his friend
and ally sheikh Mohd Abdullah .Contrary to popular perception and
belief on this issue , Nehru reluctantly bowed to all round pressure
mounted on him for this action and did
not initiate this action at his level. I quote from the book.

“ Late one night in 1953 , my brother in law asked me to go
with him to See Pandit Nehru . He had a letter with him from Bakshi Ghulam
Mohd., The deputy prime minister of J&K. Bakshi was Sheikh Abdullah ‘s
right hand man since even before the accession , but he felt that he could no
longer support Sheikh sahib. I reached there in the middle of the night .,
around 1.30 AM. Nehru was by now living in Teen Murti House .We found
the lights on in the first floor study
of Pandit Nehru . **Mathai took us to meet Pandit ji in his study and we
delivered the letter. Pandit ji looked
tired and unhappy.. Soon after this sheikh Abdullah was arrested in Gulmarg and replaced by Bakshi Ghulam Mohd as Prime Minister of J&K …..It was not
only the Sheikh’s own cabinet
ministers who opposed him. He had lost
support at the centre too, especially
from Maulana azad and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai . Kidwai was one of those who persuaded
Nehru of the need for action and Pandit ji reluctantly agreed…

Nehru was extremely unhappy at the turn of events and he could not reconcile to the
incarceration of his friend and political associate Sheikh Mohd Abdullah .later
when the Kashmir Conspiracy case against Sheikh Mohd Abdullah proved to be weak ,
Nehru pushed for his release .

During the period Sheikh Abdullah was behind bars , Nehru
did everything possible to mitigate his suffering , including looking after the
well being of Begum Abdullah and their sons .Whenever the sons came back from
UK, they were received at the Airport by Uncle Nehru’s car and at times by Mathai................................. ”

One more chapter in this book deals with death of Maulana Azad in
1958. Apart from being a tall National
leader ,Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was well versed in many languages viz. Arabic,
English, Urdu, Hindi, Persian and Bengali. Maulana was a brilliant debater, as indicated by his
name, Abul Kalam, which literally means "Lord of dialogue" He adopted
the pen name Azad as a mark of his mental emancipation from a narrow view of
religion and life.

Som Nath Dhar has presented Maulana in right perspective. So has he presented Nehru as a lonely man
after the death or absence of his close comrades or those who had worked with him for building a new India ..
Nehru for sure missed Gandhi ji ,
Maulana Azad , sardar Patel and Rafi Ahmed
Kidwai who had passed away . He equally missed Acharya Kriplani, Purshotam Dass Tandon
and C. Rajgopalachari who had been his close associates but had parted company
with him.. He needed some one around for support and guidance. i quote from
the book…

“Maulana was the last
of the National Leaders who called Pandit ji by his first name “ Jawahar ”.
Pandit ji had immense respect for him as an elder statesman , a politician of
vision , a thinker . a philosopher , writer , poet and a Muslim scholar of International repute . The void created by
his death could not be filled up by anyone. He Had been a leader of freedom struggle and then a cabinet minister of free India.
He had been one of the most prominent muslim leaders to support Hindu Muslim
unity , opposing partition of India along communal lines. After independence, he
became the education minister ,but his influence went far beyond this portfolio , which itself was very
important at that crucial period in history . At one stage , he had even
succeeded in hammering out a tripartite agreement to give independence to a
united India
. Obviously this agreement did not hold good.

When Maulana died ,the entire central Vista ( The vast India Gate Lawns ) was full
of people ;it put one in mind of Mahatma Gandhi’s funeral .Lakhs queued up to have last
glimpse of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who had been in public life since 1920................”

“ Whereas shyama Prasad Mukherjee’ speeches were full of
emotion and sentiment , Dr Ambedkar used logic and argument . Nehru always
spoke extempore . His speeches , particularly in English, were thought
provoking and showed concern about the future of India.................”

The author of the book is of a firm view that during the entire
trauma of partition , Nehru’s vision and sardar patel’s indefatigable exertion contributed largely in saving the situation
for the country........................

The author has described in detail the signing of instrument
of accession in Delhi where Sheikh Mohd Abdullah was already camping as Pandit Ji’s
( Jawahar Lal Nehru) guest .The author
also gives a vivid description of sheikh’s eagerness to go to Kashmir to lead
civil administration in driving out
raiders .While in srinagar , Bakshi engaged himself in organizing people’s resistance
against the Tribal raiders . I quote from the book .

“ During Tribal raid in Kashmir
,Bakshi Ghuilam Mohd organized the people’s resistance to the invasion as best
as he could. He collected a volunteer force armed with hockey sticks , punting
poles , daggers , and a few rifles and shotguns collected from shikaris(
Hunters ) and police stations .He called this ramshackle force KASHMIR MILITIA
. The volunteers were deployed in small batches around srinagar ‘s seven
bridges and told to patrol the area and make a great din by shouting slogans
and firing in the air to create the illusion of a big force preparing to meet
the raiders who were camping at chattabal.a suburb of srinagar city .

With the signing of instrument of accession and the decision
by the government of India to send troops to Kashmir , Sheikh Abdullah wanted
to go to srinagar by the first available plane .late in the afternoon , kachru
asked me to accompany V P Menon , Sheikh Abdullah to Delhi’s Palam Airport
where an Air Force plane was waiting . Sheikh was anxious to get to Kashmir and help in driving out the raiders . we were in
a chevrolet Impala which was being driven at 70 -80 kms per hour speed , But
sheikh wanted to go faster and faster .Menon , Kachru and I were afraid that
his impatience might land us in Hospital with broken bones . Despite the fast
drive , the light was fading by the time we reached the Palam .

When we were told that it was too late to fly to srinagar , sheikh
Abdullah was crestfallen and large tears rolled down his cheeks .Back at Pandit
ji’s house , he was like a caged Tiger . Every few minutes he talked to Bakshi
Ghulam Mohd who was holding the fort in srinagar
. “Hold on for one more night ,For god’sake.I will be there tomorrow morning
on the first flight ” he told Bakshi......................................... ”Som Nath Dhar also has a word of praise for Vasant sathe . I add relevant excerpts from the Book ..

“ I was lucky that the first minister I worked with as Director News AIR was Vasant Sathe . I found him to be fair minister , ready to accept reasonable suggestions from those who reported to him. He did not interfere in day to day functioning of the news room and allowed us a degree of autonomy. He was that rare breed of ministers who actually stood up for his staff , as he did for me on at least one occasion. In 1982, Vasant Sathe was replaced by HKL Bhagat as minister for information and broadcasting .As Minister he was not only interested in furthering the interests of the congress party , but in bolstering his own image as well……. One day Bhagat asked us to cover three day SATSANG ( Religious gathering ) of his guru in Hissar . This was a bit too much for me .There were many such unreasonable requests resulting in tussles , but I managed to keep the worst out of the AIR news bulletins . Door Darshan did not always fare so well.”I have personally heard Vasant Sathe during early eighties in Srinagar . He had come for Shamim Ahmed Samim Memorial Lectures . He was impressive in his demeanor and oratory . He spoke inside the large Shamiyana erected near Residency Road press enclave quarters ( Near State Motor Garages ) . His language was Hindustani, a mixture of Urdu and Hindi .I vividly remember the couplet of Allama Iqbal that he added to finish his speech ..

By action life may become both paradise and hell;This creature of dust in its nature is neither of light nor of fire......................................................‘Wattan ki shaan ke Liye Gareeb Awaam Ke Liye Ye keh Rahein hain Kamraaj Ke congress ko vote do’

“ for Glory to our nationFor the poor masses of our countryKamraaj appeals to everyoneTo vote for congress party ”

This was an advertisement by DAVP played before the start of the movie “ Naya kanoon “ in Pladium cinema Lal chowk , srinagar . My father had taken me for an evening show of this movie. It was possibly 1966 if I remember correctly . I was a small kid and I still remember some loveliest songs of this movie .

1 Leejiye Dil ka Nazraana , Leejiye Aankh Ka shukraana

2 Shama mein Taaqat Kahaan jo ek Parwaane mein hai

3 Kuchh Aisi Pyaari Shaqal Mere Dilruba ki hai

These things apart , I came to know about a new word in the DAVP advertisement . KAMRRAJ ! I asked my father what is Kamraaj? He replied

“ Kamraaj is an illiterate man who has become congress president . He looks very simple in dress and appearance but is very tactful and clever politician . ”

Later as I grew I came to know more about Kamraaj.A dhoti clad man who preferred to move in sandals which he liked to through away once he sat on a chair .I also remember that he devised a Plan and killed many birds with one stone. I mean consolidation of congress party after the Chinese aggression , bringing in new faces for organizational work , getting rid of corrupt chief Ministers like Bakshi Ghulam Mohd and Partap Singh Kairon and changing some other Ministers and chief Ministers whom Pandit Nehru did not like. One amongst them being the inflexible Morar Ji Desai.….

“By the time the scheme , which came to be known as Kamraaj Plan , was submitted to The All India congress committee , it had expanded to cover every important political leader at the centre as well as in the states .They all handed over their resignations to the prime Minister . Nehru allowed Home minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Finance Minister Morar Ji Desai to leave the cabinet ……..Kamraaj’s resignation was also accepted as the chief Minister of Madras ( Now Tamil Nadu )and he was elected as the congress president in october 1963.

Prime Minister Bakshi Ghulam Mohd also resigned as a courtesy to Nehru.as he was leader of national Conference and not congress party , this should have been a mere formality . But Nehru , Probably influenced by the charges of corruption against Bakshi Ghulam Mohd , accepted his resignation .This , in my opinion was Nehru second big mistake in Kashmir , after taking the Kashmir issue to the United nations back in 1948.It waas the second time the centre had played a role in removing a kashmiri prime minister , setting a precedent that could only increase mistrust the centre and the state ………This time the action was taken directly by the centre , although it did not have the support of some kashmiri politicians , including Ghulam Mohd Sadiq , Syed Mir qasim and D P Dhar .If corruption was Bakshi Ghulam Mohd’s crime , it did not stop with his ouster . But India lost a staunch ally in Kashmir and Kashmir lost a leader who had brought a great deal of progress to the state .. Worst of all , Bakshi was replaced by a nonentity , Khwaja Shamas Ud Din, who was so much a follower of Bakshi that he would not make any decision without first consulting his predecessor . So nothing was gained – but quite a lot was lost...................................... ”

He writes simple facts about some leaders that give the
reader a great peep into their personalities . Incidents of turbulent 1947 in
the country , Pakistan
sponsored tribal raid in kashmir and accession of the state to union of India have been
truthfully dealt with a journalistic precision. The author also covers events
leading to indira Gandhi ‘s rise to power , her fall from grace and her
comeback to supremacy . The book is full of interesting anecdotes tempting the
reader to finish it in one go . Every page unfolds interesting stories that
keep you immersed . The author does not pass judgments on events but skillfully
conveys what he has observed .I find the Book interesting and quite absorbing..

FROM THE BOOK

“Pandit ji’s Bunglow at 17 York Road was totally unguarded and anybody could walk into the main hall of the house , which was used as reception room.Looking at the tight security that surrounds prime ministers and other VIPs today , the free movement of people at Pandit ji’s residence seems like a dream . No entries had to be made in any register , No names were asked –People just walked in and out at will.

One evening , a uniformed Khaskar ( a member of Hyderbad based militant organization tacitly supported by Nizam ) carrying a sharpened Belcha ( Spade ), the khaskar’s weapon of choice , walked into the reception room and demanded to see Pandit ji. He said he was carrying a letter from his chief , Syed Attah Ullah Shah Bukhari , which he wanted to hand over to Pandit ji personally . Our pleas to him to give the letter to either Mathai or to me did not succeed . While we were arguing with him , Pandit ji came back from the office . He asked why we were arguing . Mathai told him about the letter and Pandit ji said ,”Don’t stop him. Let him come to me ”.The khaskar walked up smartly to Pandit ji , saluted him and delivered the letter. Both Mathai and I watched the scene, crestfallen .”

“By 1960 , I started
my assignment in srinagar , There were
already rumours about corruption in
Bakshi Ghulam Mohd’s regime .When I asked him about it , he did not deny it, But offered an explanation of sorts .He
said “ sheikh Abdullah had to be toppled . He had become a Phantom and in order
to keep the Phantom bottled up , certain price had to be paid. ”

“ Nadir Shah was advancing On
Delhi ,burning whole villages along the way .MuhammAd shah is said to have
answered " ***Hanooz Dilli Door Ast " ( Delhi is still far way )
and gone back to his singing and dancing sessions The Maharaja of kashmir , Sir
Hari Singh , behaved like Muhammad shah Rangila after he was told that the
Marauding Kabalis ( Tribal Raiders ) were converging on the state capital .
Instead of taking command of his army and going to the front , he decided to go
ahead with Dusshera celebrations on 25th October ,while the valley was I flames
around him.. The celebrations consisted of colourful parade by the state forces
, followed by a glittering Durbar at night , where all the nobles and important
citizens presented the Maharaja with a Nazarana ( offering in cash and Kind ).
……. While Baramulla was being sacked , men and women being massacred the
Maharaja merrily went through the ceremonies ........ The hall was lit with chandeliers
imported from Vienna , Prague and Venice.in the middle of the ceremonies
, the lights suddenly went off . The whole of Kashmir
valley was plunged into Darkness as the raiders had burnt and destroyed the
Power House at Mohra .”

“ I prepared daily press digest for Pandit ji .Culling editorial opinions and preparing the digest after reading a number of newspapers kept me busy from morning till late in the evening , when Pandit ji read it . He was keen to know the opinions of a few leading editors like M. Chelapati Rau ( Known as MC ) of the national Herald , Lala Durga Dass of Hindustan Times , Tarun kanti Ghosh of Amrita Bazar Patrika and editors of Hindu and Tribune.Nehru appeared to value M C’s opinion the most , reacting very spontaneously to what he wrote .”

“ During Partition riots in Delhi , I continued to live with my sister and brother in law in Lodi estate . They were able to offer sanctuary to some of their Muslim friends . Two eminent Muslim leaders Saif ud din Kitchlu and Ghulam Mohd Sadiq stayed with us through the worst of rioting in Delhi.”

“ Although Nehru was born in Allahabad, he was, of
course, a Kashmiri by ethnicity. The Kashmiri community in Delhi decided to invite him to dinner, to be
held at Bamzai’s home. In 1947 none of us was aware of any protocol
requirements. Nehru accepted the invitation and hectic preparations were put in
to motion. It was meant to be an informal “biradari” (community) affair for all
Kashmiris, Hindus as well as Muslims, including some National Conference
workers and other friends of Bamzai’s. As the host’s brother-in-law, I was
inevitably roped into helping with the preparations. One of my tasks was to
invite people personally by phone since there were no formal written
invitations. One of the people to be invited was T. N. Kaul, whom I had met
briefly when he had come to17 York
Road [Nehru’s residence] to meet Vijayalakshmi
Pandit. When I called his residence, his sister Indira answered the phone. I
did not know it then, but a few months later I was to meet Indira through a
mutual friend and in just under a year we would be married! She has been my
partner for more than sixty years.” On inviting Nehru for Dinner

“ There were old people who were
beyond tears because they had seen women violated and men killed. These people
were shocked out of their wits and were now living in a daze, perhaps beyond
pain. They asked us to arrange refuge for them. I clearly remember till today
an old woman walking up to me and asking me to arrange for some arsenic.
‘Mainoon senkhya (arsenic) la de,’ she said to me in Punjabi. She only wished
to die. While we were talking, dead bodies were being taken out of the nearby
well; bodies which had rotted beyond recognition and which emitted a foul
smell. ” On a visit to Multan
as journalist during Partition riots .

“ Having prayed at SharikaTemple , Sufi Muslim shrine of Makhdoom
sahib and a Sikh Gurdwara , Zapper Deud would be ready to return home. As a
child I took this multi religion pilgrimage in my stride , believing it to be
normal , in fact , I still believe it was the norm rather than the exception in
Kashmir for people to treat the holy spots of all religions with deep reverence
. ” On going to Hari Parbat with his Mother’s sister or Masi.

“ Old men like me tend to look
back at their lives; Young people prefer to look forward. This is as it should
be , But some times it is good for the young to understand what lies behind as
well. ” In his Foreword to the book

(Autar Mota...19.06.2013. time 11
PM Good Night )

PS

*This som Nath Dhar is not to be
confused with another writer by this name . He is Prof. Somnath Dhar who
started his career as a lecturer in SP college and later worked with Hindustan
Times and Ministry of external affairs as First secretary in various mission
abroad . He writes essentially about kashmir’s History ,culture and folklore.

**M O Mathai ( 1909-1981 ) was assistant to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru . Born in Tamil Nadu ,he essentially worked as a stenographer and used to filter guests for Pandit ji ' He also prepared brief for Pandit ji . Mathai worked with the United States Army in India before becoming an assistant to Nehru in 1946. Serious Controversy existed in the media with regard to role of M O Mathai in Nehru’s household.. It was alleged that he was an American Intelligence Plant. Mr. Mathai wrote two books that caused controversy, ''Reminiscences of the Nehru Age'' in 1978 and ''My Days With Nehru'' in 1979. In his books he mentioned the attraction of Nehru for several women and wrote critically about Nehru's daughter, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

***HUNOOZ DILLI DOOR AST is
linked with Hazrat Nizam ud din Aulia and also with Muhhamad Shah Rangeela by
people and recorded history . I add
......

(1)

It was the rule of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq and he was
envy of the Great Sufi Saint Nizamuddin (May God Almighty Allah be pleased with
him) Reason of his being envy was Hazrat Nizamuddin was too popular among
people irrespective of their faith. Another reason was that Hazrat Nizamuddin
used to arrange food for all every day composed of best menu. While Hazrat
Nizamuddin used to observe fasting and eat vegetarian food, just a dry bread
and water.

When King Tughlaq was returning to Delhi from DevGiri, after looting the
treasure there, He sent a message to Hazrat Nizamuddin to leave Delhi before his arrival.
When the message was delivered to him, Hazrat Nizamuddin said to his desciple;
just write on the letter;

“Hunooz Dilli Door Ast” in Persian and it means “Delhi is still far away”

When King Tughlaq arrived near Delhi, he was greeted by his successor Alagh
Khan who erected a grand pavilion outside the Delhi Fort, where King and his
body guards can enter into it riding on their elephants to celebrate the
victory. It is said when the King Tughlaq and his men entered into the
pavilion, the main central pole of the great pavilion tent gave away and it
fell on the King and he died instantly along with his commanders. So it was the
curse of Hazrat Nizamuddin on the king.

Since then this saying is famous among people.

(2)

Mohammad Shah Rangeela the ruler of INDIA in 1739 was in his cups, drunk to his
gills, in the Diwan e Khas in Delhi, when a
courtier arrived and told him that Nadir Shah of Persia
had entered the confines of Hindustan. From
the haze Rangeela was in, he muttered" Hunooz Dilli Door Ast'.'Delhi is still far away'.

As Nadir Shah progressed towards Delhi,
his advance was reported repeatedly to Rangeela who responded with the refrain
about the still intervening distance from Delhi.
Finally Nadir Shah entered the gates of Delhi,
sacked it thoroughly and left a mountain of skulls, burnt debris, fires and
unbelievable sufferings for the residents.